Posted on
4/16/2008 3:36:37 PM
Bet On NBA Basketball – Magic Host Wizards
By Eric Williams
The Orlando Magic, (51-30 SU, 49-29-3 ATS, 36-43-2 O/U) may have won the Southeast Division this season with a surprisingly good regular season, but it is the Washington Wizards, (43-38 SU, 46-35 ATS, 44-37 O/U) that are looking like the most dangerous in the Southeast as both clubs head into their final regular season game. This should be an online betting shootout making this a tough NBA basketball game to wager on.
The Wizards have won two straight and five of their last six in the BetUS Sportsbook, while reaching their healthiest point of the entire regular season after getting all-star point guard Gilbert Arenas and fellow all-star, forward Caron Butler, back from extended injuries.
The Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 117-110 on Monday and have a chip the size of Mt. Rushmore on their collective shoulders as they head into their playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
"It's a broken record," Washington center Brendan Haywood said. "Even though we've been playing the same team over and over again, kind of like 'Groundhog Day,' we're still happy to be there and we're not taking it for granted."
The Magic reached the 50-win plateau for the first time in 12 years and has also won their last two games, including a 121-105 win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Despite the lack of importance for each team in this contest, Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy says he wants to win the game as much as any other contest.
"If they're keeping score, I want to win," Van Gundy said. "I don't care, exhibition game or anything else. If there's a scoreboard, I'd rather be on the right side of that. Now, I wasn't going to sacrifice everything for that. I wasn't going to play guys 40 minutes or whatever. But we want to win."
Arenas will play just his sixth game since returning from knee injury and could see some extended minutes tonight. Butler has missed the last two games with a bruised right knee but is prepared to go for the playoffs and could see some playing time tonight.
The Wizards are 6-4 against the spread in their last ten while Orlando has managed to go 5-4-1 against the spread over the same span.
Here is a look at tonight’s key trends, followed by my analysis and NBA Gambling Free Picks:
The Wizards are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
The Wizards are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
The Magic are 9-2-1 ATS in their last 12 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
The Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference.
The Over is 7-1 in Wizards last 8 vs. NBA Southeast.
The Under is 7-0 in Magic last 7 overall.
The Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Orlando.
The Wizards are 6-14 ATS in the last 20 meetings.
The Underdog is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings.
Analysis: While the Magic may be the better team, (may be) in this matchup, I like the Wizards to continue their serious march toward the postseason and their date with the Cleveland Cavaliers with another victory tonight. At the very least, the Wiz should be able to cover the spread in this matchup.
NBA Free Picks: Wizards +5 Points/Over 204 Total Points
07:05 PM EST Basketball Point Spreads
Washington Wizards +5 -110
Orlando Magic -5 -110
Over 204 -110
Under 204 -110
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